Ireland begin their quest for a memorable 2019 on Saturday, as they look to make history. No side has completed back to back Grand Slams since 1992, but will the Irish be able to pull it off? They’re also aiming to land a first ever semi-final place at the Rugby World Cup this Autumn, after climbing up the world rankings. However, they have to prove themselves in the Six Nations before they can start dreaming of Japan.

These two have moved into the top four in the world, while they’re the top two favourites in the betting to take the title once again. Between them they’ve shared the last five Six Nations Championships, while they’ve each landed the Grand Slam in the last three years. Who will see their first defeat of the tournament handed out here?

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Ireland News: Banner Year for Ireland

It’s clear that 2019 is expected to be a huge year for the in-form Irish. Their home win over the All Blacks in the Autumn Internationals guided them into the top two in the world, which is a great position ahead of the start of the Six Nations. Can they capitalise on that and pick up another title here?

Can Unbeaten Irish Continue their Form?

The Irish have a fine record backing them up ahead of the tournament, with 18 wins from their last 19 matches, a run which dates back almost two years. They’ve really kicked on in the final stages of Joe Schmidt’s reign, with the coach set to step down after the World Cup later this year. He’s aiming to continue his team’s form, and win another championship.

Pressure on Ireland

While their form is fantastic, have the Irish peaked too early? They were always the targets after their Grand Slam win a year ago, but they have added to that status with their world ranking and after their All Blacks win. The hosts are facing a few jibes from England’s Eddie Jones, but the real thing to worry about is the target on their back as they look to keep up their unbeaten run through to November.

England News: Can Jones Restore England

The visitors are coming off the back of their worst tournament finish since 1983. They were fifth last time out, but they are second favourites for glory in 2019. Like Schmidt, Jones is departing his role after the World Cup, but will he be able to get this side back up and running before he goes?

Jones’ Mind Games

The England boss is aiming to get under the skin of the favourites here, claiming that, ‘praise can make you weak’. He says that the build up that this Irish side are getting could leave them vulnerable to an upset, but even those mind games seem like a ploy to turn around their recent poor fortunes.

Analysis: Winning Run set to Continue

The bookies don’t think that the Irish are going to be weakened by praise. They come into this clash priced at 1/3 to win the game, while England are 11/4 outsiders. The draw here can be found at 25/1, as the hosts aim to build on their fantastic recent form in this fixture.

Irish Out to Maintain Streak

The hosts have won seven of their nine home meetings with England since the year 2000, a record which they’ll be aiming to continue in this clash. England have struggled in their clashes in Dublin, while their recent form isn’t great. They’ve lost four of their last 11 matches, while they lost back to back away games in last season’s tournament. That’s bound to have an impact on this trip, a clash which has been labelled, ‘boring’ by the England camp.

Irish to Edge Tight Game

England’s defensive coach John Mitchell claimed Ireland would bore them in Dublin as they chased another win over the English. He did praise their defensive strength and structure, which helped the Irish see off New Zealand. They’re likely to see a similar clash here, with the last 12 matches between these two seeing fewer than 40 points. That has us tipping under 39.5 points here at odds of 8/11, with Ireland aiming to hold on to their structure. They should edge this tight game, and we think the best value on the hosts is to back them to win with a margin between 1 and 10 points, which is priced at 7/4.

Recent Matches

Ireland and England tend to have huge battles, with the encounter usually playing a key role in the season. Since 1989, this clash has seen the two sides contest the Millennium trophy, which Ireland have won three times in the last four years. England have won 18 of their last 31 meetings, but in recent years things have swung towards the Irish.

17th March 2018: England 15-24 Ireland

Ireland won in their trip to Twickenham last year, as they completed a Grand Slam. While the Irish have built up a great home record against the English in recent years, they proved themselves on the road in this this crunch clash, as the Irish continued their rise in world rugby.

18th March 2017: Ireland 13-9 England

Ireland’s last home clash with England saw them end the visitors’ hopes of back to back Grand Slams. They had won their opening four after the Grand Slam in 2016, but their quest to land back to back wins was denied by the Irish in Dublin, who held off a second half fightback from the champions to claim the points.

27th February 2016: England 21-10 Ireland

This clash came during England’s Grand Slam run, with the hosts in compete control of the clash. They picked up vital second half tries to ease to a victory, which sent the English on to win the title.

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